Ole Miss Football spring practice on March 17th, 2014 at the Manning Center in Oxford, MS.
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss football team continued its spring practices leading up to the annual Grove Bowl on April 5 on Monday (March 24). With the weather nice enough, the Rebels took to the practice field outside and head coach Hugh Freeze discussed his thoughts on the first scrimmage, depth and the progression of Laremy Tunsil.
Freeze discussed his thoughts on Saturday’s open scrimmage and several of his takeaways from the open practice.
“I was really pleased,” said Freeze. “I saw a lot of good things on both sides, obviously a lot of mistakes but I think we’re faster, defensively especially, but also as a football team. The effort was definitely there.”
“The offensive line we have a ways to go, especially that chemistry that you have up there with the different looks you get. That caused some mistakes and some negative plays, but I thought the protection from the backs, particularly Mark Dodson and I’Tavius (Mathers), they seemed to be the ones that got the bulk of that when we were getting pressure and I thought they picked it up nicely and we had some explosive plays offensively. I’d say I was fairly pleased, which is not normal after a scrimmage. It’s hard to leave there feeling really good, but I felt good about it.”
Freeze, who has made some position changes this spring, also discussed the depth of the team at several positions.
“Defensively we got Lavon (Hooks) back today so that helped,” said Freeze. “We’re still thin at corner, but Kailo (Moore) has really helped. He had his best day today by far. Had a play against Laquan (Treadwell) on a fade and it was a phenomenal play; he made some big hits too, so I was pleased. I think our corner depth has come on and I think our linebacker depth has. Defensive line we’re still not quite where I’d like it to be and at safety I think we have four good ones.”
Freeze also talked about Derrick Jones who is making the switch to corner.
“He did some really nice things today, he’s gaining some confidence,” said Freeze. “He’s still getting beat on some double moves, but I love where he’s at. He’s long, athletic and he can run.”
Laremy Tunsil enters his second season with the Rebels on the heels of a big freshman campaign, which saw him earn first team Freshman All-America honors. Freeze talked about his progress and also the next steps in his progression.
“He’s so naturally quick and gifted that nothing seems to get him in a hurry which is a really good quality,” said Freeze. “A mistake guys make is you get over anxious and you want to go with the first move the defensive end makes and it gets you off balance and out of sorts, but he just feels so natural in his ability that he doesn’t do that. I think his next step is to become a more dominate run blocker. He’s not bad at it but becoming more dominant at it.”
The Rebels will hold their second open practice of the season on Saturday (March 29), tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. More details will be made available later this week.